The Madison Dedicates Premiere Episode to Robert Redford

The late film icon's influence is felt in the new Montana-set drama series.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:00pm

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The first episode of Taylor Sheridan's new drama series The Madison is dedicated to the late actor and director Robert Redford, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 89. While Redford was not directly involved in the production of the show, director and executive producer Christina Alexandra Voros explains that his work, particularly the film A River Runs Through It, was a major inspiration and influence on the new series.

Why it matters

Redford was an iconic filmmaker and outdoorsman who helped shape the cinematic portrayal of the American West. His 1992 film A River Runs Through It, which won an Oscar for Best Cinematography, is referenced in the premiere episode of The Madison as a favorite of one of the main characters. The dedication to Redford reflects the show's aim to continue his legacy of powerful Western storytelling.

The details

In the premiere episode of The Madison, the character Stacy and her daughters turn to Redford's A River Runs Through It, which was a favorite of Stacy's late husband Preston, as they grapple with his unexpected death. Director Christina Alexandra Voros explains that the film's themes of "loss and love and discovering ourselves and our families through grief" deeply resonate with her own personal experiences, making the dedication to Redford all the more meaningful.

  • The Madison premiered on March 15, 2026.
  • Robert Redford passed away in September 2023 at the age of 89.

The players

Robert Redford

An iconic American actor, director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, and philanthropist who was a major figure in the cinematography of the American West, most notably for directing the 1992 film A River Runs Through It.

Christina Alexandra Voros

The director and executive producer of The Madison, who explains that Redford's work, particularly A River Runs Through It, was a major inspiration and influence on the new series.

Taylor Sheridan

The creator of The Madison and the Yellowstone series, continuing the legacy of powerful Western storytelling.

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What they’re saying

“I think anyone who watches The Madison will understand the connection to the dedication to Mr. Redford. As a storyteller who has been inspired by his choices my entire career, it's an honor to have been able to make a show that is worthy of dedicating to him.”

— Christina Alexandra Voros, Director and Executive Producer

“That film was one of my father's favorite movies. I lost my dad 10 years ago. There's a lot of poetry for me in telling a story about loss and love and discovering ourselves and our families through grief in a different lens than what we experience day to day. So there's a lot of beautiful serendipitous poetry in this show for me, and A River Runs Through It is part of it.”

— Christina Alexandra Voros, Director and Executive Producer

What’s next

The Madison is expected to continue exploring themes of loss, love, and family through the lens of the American West in future episodes.

The takeaway

The dedication of The Madison's premiere episode to the late Robert Redford reflects the show's aim to honor the iconic filmmaker's legacy of powerful Western storytelling and cinematography, which continues to inspire a new generation of creators like Christina Alexandra Voros.